Single Review: Rob Howdle - Unstable (2026)
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Written: 24th March 2026
Rob Howdle is a solo artist and songwriter from the North East of England who mostly performs rock and metal music but takes influence from many different artists and genres. Over the last year, he has released several singles including the pulsating Yesterdays Sorrow and the acoustic driven Feels Like A Dream. His latest song, Unstable is due for release on 28th March and is his most personal song to date. It is also a track on which Howdle has been working for some time. “I have been writing this on and off for years. I’d take it to bands and whilst I am all for making tweaks, I felt they were wanting to change it to the point it was no longer the same song. It’s a very personal one to me since it describes the constant mental struggle I have on the days where I just cannot cope with life or people.” Ultimately, Howdle opted to handle the recording personally and invited Victoria Bainbridge of Floral Detectives to contribute her distinctive vocals.
Unstable opens with a crash of thunder and distant rain before a beautifully mournful piano begins. Fragile and reflective, the delicate motif is joined by haunting guitar at the exact moment the thunder rumbles again. Together, the two instruments intertwine, both haunting and reflective, as the song begins to weave its spell. Before a word has been sung, Howdle has already shown the dextrous control he has over writing for these instruments and delivers an introduction that is powerfully resonant and emotive.
Sombre bass guitar and gentle drums are added as the first lyrics are uttered. In just the blink of an eye / The sun turns to rain / A smile starts to cry / In sets the pain / Out in the world / Where the water’s tranquil / I have to save myself / Cause no one else will. Victoria Bainbridge’s elegiac vocals immediately draw us into the song and while there is a vulnerability, there is also an acceptance in her voice, the words acknowledging that self-help and self-rescue is not only necessary but is sometimes the only solution. Her delivery is delightfully understated but simultaneously, utterly captivating.
With the calmer verses symbolising the times Howdle’s mental health is good, or at least okay, the slightly heavier choruses symbolise the opposite. I’m so messed up in my own head / The only person to talk to Is my other self / Reflections lie, it’s not what it seems / I pray for the day I get my release. Crunchier guitar riffs and crashing symbols add some heft to the sound as inner turmoil grows. With each passing chorus, these become increasingly intense, mirroring the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of anguish.
After the second chorus, a dolorous guitar solo begins with Dowdle’s mind at relative peace. Suddenly, the solo becomes more frenzied, breaking loose in both tempo and manner as he loses control of his thoughts. These two styles of solos then alternate with neither achieving dominance but the more unstable voice surging into feverish unrest. Eventually, the track ends with a harmonised version of the two solos, of which Dowdle comments, “This symbolises neither replacing the other but learning to work in together and accepting that the other is there. This is something I've only recently been able to do mentally.” It is an elegant and heart-felt way to show the inner battle that mental health can cause. With a final peal of thunder, the track ends as it began - illustrating the cyclical nature of life.
Unstable is a wonderfully constructed track and the slow build towards the solo section is handled with purpose and clarity. Victoria Bainbridge’s voice initially becomes the centre of the song, carrying Howdle’s lyrics with poignance. She does not simply deliver the vocal but brings shape and emotional weight to the narrative. It is also pleasing that Howdle released the song exactly as he intended, especially considering the deeply personal subject matter. Unstable will appeal to listeners who value depth in both writing and performance and who seek music that engages honestly with difficult emotions while remaining richly expressive throughout. It is a song that draws you in quietly then refuses to let go.
Unstable is released on 28th March 2026.
Rob Howdle online